Tag Archives: God

Jun21

Facing the Unexpected

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Recently I have I faced obstacles that I didn’t expect. The plan was to leave for Charlotte, NC for the summer. Unfortunately it didn’t turn out as I expected, and I ended up deciding to go home for the summer. I was very disappointed about the situation, because I have been looking forward to being in Charlotte. I thought it would be nice to get away from home. I currently live in the same town that my college is, and it’s not the same here when all the students go home.

There are two options for how to react to a disappointing situation. First, you can be bitter about the situation. You can just give up all hope and not do anything to make the situation better. This option is very easy to fall into. I struggle with this myself. I like to plan everything ahead of time, and if something happens that doesn’t go with my original plan I struggle with being ok with the unknown.

BUT instead of the previous reaction you can turn to God and have faith that he will bring something good out of the situation. Though it hurts right now I know God will provide an opportunity to do something else this summer. I may not know what it is at this time, but I continue to believe that God will bring something for me to do. I know that he’s not going to let me do nothing this summer, and even if he doesn’t bring anything new to do I will enjoy the opportunity to have no major plans for the summer.

Scripture References

  • “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
  • “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” ~Colossians 3:23-24 NIV
  • “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” ~1 John 5:13-14

I would Love to hear from you!

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May26

To the Person Thinking About Transferring

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When I started college it only took me a few months to realize that I wasn’t at the school meant for me. I hoped and prayed that it would get better. I hoped that I would want to stay at the college I went to. I felt like if I transferred it would show that I made a mistake the first time at choosing colleges. Only a few people knew this, but I was actually planning on transferring after my first semester. Actually to the current school I go to. But I ended up going back to the school I was at just to see if it’d get better the second semester.

Now don’t get me wrong I liked the school I was at! You won’t find me saying many negative things about my old college. I had a good amount of friends. I had a job that I loved. I had found a church that I liked. I was also a part of the school’s Forensics team, which became a part of my second family. BUT something didn’t feel right at the school. It felt like something was missing. I liked all these things, but I wasn’t in love with my life at this school.

I was very torn with transferring. I questioned God why I wasn’t happy there, and why he wouldn’t have me at the right school in the first place. Ultimately I decided to take a leap of faith and decided to transfer schools. I realized that if I was having these feelings now and throughout my freshman year that I would have these feelings my sophomore year and each year afterwards.

Fast forward to my sophomore year. I’m at a new school, and I am starting all over again. From go I realize something is different here. Something just feels right about being here. I quickly found a church that has everything I want in a church, and is very similar to my old church. I joined a small group at this church, and very quickly made friends with these people. At my school there is an online program and a residential program. At first I decided to the online program to get used to it, but then I switched to the residential program my second semester. I started taking classes on campus and living on campus, and as soon as I started doing this I realized this is the school I want to call mine! Now looking back I don’t regret transferring at all, and believe this was the best decision for me.

Now I write all this to say if you are thinking about transferring that there is hope! It will get better eventually! If you are having similar experiences then take that step of faith and transfer to another school. If it doesn’t work out, then you can just go back to the school you were originally at. Also I want to let you know that you were at the school you are at now for a reason even though it might only be for a season. Looking back I am glad I was at my old school, because I met a lot of cool people and it was better for me to be at a small school for my first year of college. God didn’t make a mistake by putting you at that school. He could be testing and growing you to be a better person, and seeing if you truly trust him. I pray if you are thinking about transferring that God will give you the peace and wisdom to guide you to the direction you are supposed to go with in what college you are supposed to be at.

 

Scripture References

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” ~Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” ~James 1:6

I would Love to hear from you!

Feel free to Comment below, or email me at:  matthew712girl@gmail.com

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I want to let you know that you were at the school you are at now for a reason even though it might only be for a season..png

 

May13

Trying to Be Patient in a Not Patient World

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One thing that God has been trying to teach me is to be patient. Society teaches us that we shouldn’t have to wait for anything. We currently live in a society that wants everything done now. I unfortunately have this mindset at times. Recently I have been in a season of waiting. Actually I am still in the season of waiting on certain things.

One thing I had to patient about is what I am supposed to do this summer. I had a few options at what I could do for the summer. I was torn if I should be finding a job in the town where I go to school and where my family lives. I also thought I should be taking summer classes. But part of me wanted to be somewhere else for the summer. One day I was on Facebook and my old school had posted an organization that was looking for people for the summer. The job consisted of me leaving for the summer. They had a list of places and organizations you could go to, and then you chose a top 3 from the list.  I ended up applying and getting a job in the city and organization I wanted. So it looks like I am going to Charlotte, NC! So luckily that prayer was answered.

Though this prayer was answered I am still in a season of waiting for other things. As like most college students there are a lot of decisions that you have to make while you’re in college. I don’t know how it’s possible, but I am about to be a junior in college. And as I approach this year I have to start really thinking about what I want to do after college, and what would be the best things to be doing to prepare me for the career I want to go into after college.

Another thing I have been working on with patience is to have peace when I don’t know what things will look like. I’m someone who wants all the answers now. If I don’t know what I should do with a decision I pray that God would make it clear of what I should be doing, but I am learning that sometimes God doesn’t give you a crystal clear answer. He might instead give you a few choices and let you pick one. Then after you decide he will walk and guide you through this decision. I have faith that God knows what he is doing in my life, and he’ll be with me every step of the way! One day I’ll be with God and have answers, but until then I am going to faithfully follow Christ!

 

Scripture References

“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” ~Proverbs 14:9 NIV

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” ~Romans 12:12 NIV

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” ~Psalm 27:14

I would Love to hear from you!

Feel free to Comment below, or email me at:  matthew712girl@gmail.com

Want to know when a new blog is posted? Email me at: matthew712girl@gmail.com, or if you have a WordPress account, follow!

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Dec27

The Importance of Serving

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As the New Year approaches, I urge you to consider trying to get involved in serving others more often. There are many reasons why a person should serve. You might think that serving is for the person that you are helping, but it’s so much more than that. It truly changes you and helps you grow on your walk with Christ. Here are the top three reasons why I think you should serve.

  1. It gives you a sense of commitment to something. When you’re waking up early to do something at first you might not want to wake up, but when you realize that the people you are serving with need you then it gets easier.
  2. You can see the difference you are making. There is nothing better than the feeling of realizing that what you are doing is making a difference. You can realize this when you see the smile on the child’s face or when you notice that you completed what could have seemed like a tough task.
  3. God commands us to love our neighbor, and serving is one way we can love our neighbor. I cannot say enough that it really impacts the people you are serving that you come to help them with a need. Once you get into the swing of serving, then you start to be missed when you are not serving.

 

Now that you know the reasons of why to serve, then I hope your mind is wondering how you can get involved in serving. There are also many ways to serve. So I’m going to list a few ways you can serve others. I would strive to serve at least once a month, but there is no limit on how frequently you serve.  I serve with the middle-schoolers at my church every week.

  • You can get involved with a non-profit. There are many non-profits throughout the country and globally that you can be a part of. Figure out what you might want to do or some gifts that you have been given, and then research on the Internet for non-profits that you can use those gifts with. Or you can look up non-profits in your local area or where you want to get involved, and see if any interest you.
  • Volunteer at a Local Senior Citizen home. There can be a lot of depression in a Senior Citizen community, and you can go and be a light to them. You can help them by doing a craft with them or singing to them.
  • You can make your own serve events. If you find a need in your city or globally then you can be the initiative that starts it. An example of this is that I knew a family that was going overseas. I decided that a group of kids I watch and I could make bracelets for the kids they would be coming in contact with.
  • You can volunteer with a program that helps with the homeless community. In most cities there are programs that’s help feed or support the local homeless community, and if you can’t find any in your area than you can make one! For my birthday one year we collected scarfs and jackets and left them in areas that we knew the homeless would visit or live at.
  • You can get involved with a local church. There are many places you can serve in the church, and there is always a need of more volunteers at church. You can help with production, children, worship, hospitality, or in the offices doing things.

Whatever you do to volunteer is going to beneficial to you and others. This is just a starting list, and I hope it sparks an interest to where you can serve in the future.

 

Scripture References:

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” ~1 Peter 4:10

“The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” ~Mark 12:31

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” ~Acts 20:35

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. “ ~Matthew 5:14-16

I would Love to hear from you!

Feel free to Comment below, or email me at:  matthew712girl@gmail.com

Want to know when a new blog is posted? Email me at: matthew712girl@gmail.com, or if you have a WordPress account, follow!

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Dec23

Things to Remember this Holiday Season

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There are two major groups of people during the holiday season. The first group is the group that love the holidays. The other and lesser known group is the people that think the holidays can be a disappointing or sad time of the year.

For the first group holidays are a great time of the year. It is a time filled with seeing family and friends. Many times you have multiple Christmas parties to go to during the season. You have many gifts to buy and give and/or you are getting many gifts. You have vacations to go on and people to visit. For students you get a break off from school, and for many you go to your hometown to see the people you care about. This is the life of many people during the holidays.

BUT for the second group the holidays are not a happy time. For these people the holidays can be a sad and disappointing. And there is many reasons why the holidays can be like this, and everyone’s reasons are different. But for a few it a reminder of the loved ones you lost. Or it’s a time of battles with family members about the things of the past. Or you have no one to spend the holidays with in general. And during this time it doesn’t help to get on social media and see all the great things that are happening to everyone else.

 

For the first group of people remember:

  • Enjoy these times you have with friends and loved ones. It might not be like this forever. Don’t take these precious moments for granted. These seasons are a gift that should be cherished.
  • If you know someone that could be in the second group. Reach out to them, and try to include them the best you can. Treat this person as you would want be treated if you were them.

 

For the second group of people remember:

  • Have hope during this time that holidays will get better, and that it may only be like this for a few years. Remember that you’re not alone. There are many people that feel this way, and it could even include those people that look like they are having a blast this holiday season.
  • And if you don’t think things will get any better than try to make the situation better. Reach out to others for help during the holidays. You don’t have to be alone and sad during these times. Make the best out of the situation you have been given.

 

Though regardless of the group you are in there are some things you both can remember about the holidays. Remember the real reason of why we have the holidays. The real reason we have the holidays is to remember the birth of a little boy, named Jesus, who came to save the world. He came to give us the best gift we could ask for. He came so that we could have eternal life. If you don’t know if you have this gift, then let me assure you that it is given to whomever wants it. As long as you believe that this little boy came for you and me to save us from our sins then you can have eternal life. I pray that you have this gift, and if you don’t then you receive it this holiday season.

 

Scripture References:

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ~ Matthew 1:21

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” ~John 3:16

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” ~Romans 15:13

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” ~Psalms 147:3

I would Love to hear from you!

Feel free to Comment below, or email me at:  matthew712girl@gmail.com

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Remember the real reason of why we have the holidays. The real reason we have the holidays is to remember the birth of a little boy, named Jesus, who came to save the world. He came to g

Mar4

God’s Will

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The other night I was sitting at dinner with a group of friends and we were asking each other random questions. Well one of the questions was “If you could ask God one question what would it be?”  One of the girls at the table pondered this and responded with “To know what God’s will for my life is”.  It made me think isn’t this something we all want to know? I know I have surely thought about this.

I know in my life there are times when I question God why certain things had to happen. Actually this happened this past weekend.  Two doors were closed, and I questioned why this had happened. Sometimes when you are questioning why God is doing something in your life, then you should look to his scriptures and pray that He will reveal your path to you.

Sometimes it’s good to not know what is going on in your life. It allows you to enjoy the moment better, and not worry about what future things are going to happen.

Scripture References

  • “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18
  • “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” ~ Hebrews 13:20-21
  • “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ~Matthew 6:33
  • “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”~ Proverbs 19: 21

I would Love to hear from you!

Feel free to Comment below, or email me at:  matthew712girl@gmail.com

Want to know when a new blog is posted? Email me at: matthew712girl@gmail.com, or if you have a WordPress account, follow!

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“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”~ Proverbs 19_ 21.png